Google launches standalone website for Hangouts

Google has launched a new stand alone website for Hangouts, allowing you to chat with people in your Google contacts, without needing to have your Gmail open. Seeing as it's a separate website, this is also perfect if you use Firefox or the the new Edge browser in WIndows 10, and therefore can't access the Chrome extension. 

It's a simple structure, fitting Google's overarching Material Design, with access to your messages, contacts and phone calls on the left side, and "new" options front and centre. The background photo,  changes every few minutes. Though clicking on a chat opens up a minimized window, like it does in your Gmail, clicking on a video call opens up a new tab where it asks to use your PC camera and microphone. The icon on the to pleft corner lets you navigate to settings, and also lets you install hangouts for Android, iOS and Chrome. You can access the website hangouts.google.com.